Growing Old in the Era of a High Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: The Impact of AIDS on Older Men and Women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Despite the important consequences that HIV/AIDS is likely to have for older people in South Africa, little empirical work has focused directly on this issue. However, emerging evidence suggests that older people are increasingly affected by the AIDS pandemic. In many households, older people often assume responsibility for the care of those who are sick and/ or dying and for children orphaned by AIDS. This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to provide insights into the multiple impacts of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the lives of older men and women. The results show that some older men and women feel at risk of HIV infection because of their caregiving activities. Almost 17% of respondents report that they have ever cared for someone with HIV/AIDS, with the percentage somewhat higher in rural areas. The study found that the impact of HIV/AIDS is substantial and is compounded greatly by gender dynamics in the household.

“My Legs Affect Me a Lot. … I Can No Longer Walk to the Forest to Fetch Firewood”: Challenges Related to Health and the Performance of Daily Tasks for Older Women in a High HIV Context

“…This was the common cultural understanding accepted among our participants and as such has a bearing on the "social reality" in which older women find themselves since the available men-young or old-do not easily or naturally avail themselves to be of help in the performance of these tasks (Akintola, 2004;Munthree & Maharaj, 2010;Oppong, 2006).…”

“…At the same time, however, it presents these women with new challenges and a necessity to adjust their expectations and daily performance based on their limited capacity (Tarlov, 1992 HIV prevalence, endemic poverty and high unemployment, the sense of a lack of control over one's own environment, and of limited capacity due to ill health, can prevent individuals from choosing activities that have meaning and worth to them, and it may hinder access to resources needed to engage in such activities (Connor Schisler, & Polatajko, 2002;Hammell, 2008). As the middle generation is lost to AIDS, despite their own declining health, older South African women in particular are required to perform tasks that otherwise their children would have completed (Munthree & Maharaj, 2010;Ogunmefun et al, 2011), while simultaneously losing their own caregivers (Kautz et al, 2010).…”

“…In addition, they are asked to care for ailing children and HIV-infected and orphaned grandchildren (Munthree & Maharaj, 2010;Ogunmefun et al, 2011;Schatz & Gilbert, 2012). Older poor South Africans are aided by government-sponsored noncontributory pensions.…”

“…In addition, older persons and their households must cope with the loss of income and support previously provided by the sick or those lost to AIDS (Schatz, Madhavan, & Williams, 2011;Williams & Tumwekwase, 2001). Increased AIDS-related morbidity and mortality in older persons' households and social networks affect their mental and physical health and daily activities (Mudege & Ezeh, 2009;Munthree & Maharaj, 2010;Schatz & Gilbert, 2012;Westaway, 2010).…”

“…Older women are more likely to be caretakers of those infected and affected by HIV than older men (Munthree & Maharaj, 2010). Feeling overwhelmed and worried about family members can negatively impact relationships with kin and the ability to complete expected tasks such as household chores (Mudege & Ezeh, 2009;Schatz, 2007).…”